Demyelinating neuropathy and autoimmune hemolytic anemia in a patient with pancreatic cancer

Abstract

We herein report the case of a patient with pancreatic cancer who manifested features of chronic inflamematory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA). A 78 year-old Japanese man presented with AIHA and was treated with steroids and splenectomy. Although the AIHA improved following splenectomy, the patient suffered from sensorimotor neuropathy soon after undergoing surgery. The electrophysiological features indicated demyelinating neuropathy. The neuropathy was refractory to immunomodulatory treatment, and intensive investigations revealed pancreatic cancer. The patient's neurological deficits improved significantly after the surgery for cancer. Although the combination of AIHA and CIDP has been reported anecdotally, this is the first case of the coexistence of these diseases as paraneoplastic syndromes. © 2013 The Japanese Society of Internal Medicine.